On the Orthogonality of Two Thiol‐Based Modular Ligations

The chemoselectivity of two thiol‐based modular ligations operating under mild conditions is assessed. For this purpose, a macromolecular scaffold possessing allyl and pentafluorophenyl groups in two distinct parts is employed, which enables facile characterization by NMR spectroscopy (¹H and ¹⁹F) and size‐exclusion chromatography. By using appropriate triggers (introduction of a base or light irradiation), it is possible to direct thiols to an arbitrarily chosen part of the scaffold, without any change to the other part and with no involvement of protecting group chemistry. Dual functionalization experiments are achieved by applying these triggers consecutively with no consideration of the reaction sequence order, evidencing full bidirectionality. A set of one‐pot, purification‐free procedures that enable near‐quantitative to full dual functionalization in (very) short reaction times (17–180 min) is also presented.     

Effect of carbon nanotubes on phase transitions of nematic liquid crystals

Phase diagrams of multi‐wall carbon nanotube (MWNT)/nematic liquid crystal (E7) and buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀‐I _h)/nematic liquid crystal (E7) binary systems have been investigated by means of polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that the isotropic–nematic phase transition temperature (T _NI) of the liquid crystal component was enhanced by the incorporation of MWNT within a small composition gap. A chimney‐type phase diagram can be identified in the MWNT/E7 mixture over a narrow range of ～0.1–0.2% MWNT concentration. Upon substituting the nanotubes with isotropic fillers such as fullerene, the (C₆₀‐I _h)/E7 blend showed no discernible change of T _NI in the same concentration range of the chimney of the MWNT/E7 mixture, suggesting a significant contribution of anisotropy (or the aspect ratio) of the nanotubes to the entropy of the system containing liquid crystal molecules. This enhanced T _NI phenomenon may be attributed to anisotropic alignment of liquid crystal molecules along the carbon nanotube bundles.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and AC Conductivity of Polyaniline/Selenium Composites

This study reports structural and thermal properties and temperature-dependent alternating current (AC) conductivity of polyaniline/selenium (PANI/Se) composites in emeraldine salt form prepared by a chemical polymerization method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the doping process significantly affected the N-H bond in PANI chain. The free energy change, which was calculated from the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, showed that Se was electrostatically adsorbed on PANI molecules. From the scanning electron microscopy images it was determined that morphological changes caused by the doping process on PANI surface could affect conductivity. Thermal analysis, which was performed with differential scanning calorimetry, showed that the addition of Se increased the degradation temperature of PANI. Depending on the doping level, significant increase was observed in the AC conductivity of PANI, approximately 11, 13, and 17 times for 300, 350, and 400 K temperatures respectively.     

Isolation,characterization, and NMR spectroscopic data of indole and oxindole alkaloids from Mitragyna speciosa

A new indole alkaloid, 7β-hydroxy-7H-mitraciliatine (1) and a new oxindole alkaloid, isospeciofoleine (2) together with nine known alkaloids were isolated from Mitragyna speciosa and characterized by NMR, CD, and MS spectroscopic data analyses. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data of isospeciofoline (3), isorotundifoline (4), paynantheine (5), and 3-isopaynantheine (6) were also reported for the first time.     

Reading Polymers: Sequencing of Natural and Synthetic Macromolecules

The sequencing of biopolymers such as proteins and DNA is among the most significant scientific achievements of the 20th century. Indeed, modern chemical methods for sequence analysis allow reading and understanding the codes of life. Thus, sequencing methods currently play a major role in applications as diverse as genomics, gene therapy, biotechnology, and data storage. However, in terms of fundamental science, sequencing is not really a question of molecular biology but rather a more general topic in macromolecular chemistry. Broadly speaking, it can be defined as the analysis of comonomer sequences in copolymers. However, relatively different approaches have been used in the past to study monomer sequences in biological and manmade polymers. Yet, these “cultural” differences are slowly fading away with the recent development of synthetic sequence‐controlled polymers. In this context, the aim of this Minireview is to present an overview of the tools that are currently available for sequence analysis in macromolecular science.     

Preparation of Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials Using Agregates of Poly{2-methyl-N-[2-(phenylthio)phenyl] Acrylamide-co-2-(Trimethylsyloxy)Ethyl Methacrylate} as Precursor and Vibrational Investigation of the Polymerization

Acrylamide based monomer, 2-methyl-N-[2-(phenylthio)phenyl]acrylamide (MPPA) was synthesized by reacting 2-(phenylthio) aniline with methacryloylchloride. The copolymerization of MPPA, with 2-(trimethylsyloxy)ethyl methacrylate(TSEM) was carried out with different monomer-to-monomer ratios in the feed. All the compounds were characterized by IR, Raman and ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR techniques and SEM analysis. The elemental analysis of the copolymer composition led to the determination of reactivity ratios employing Fineman-Ross, Kelen-Tüdös and Extended Kelen-Tüdös linearization methods. These parameters were also estimated using a non-linear computational fitting procedure, known as reactivity ratio errors in variable model. The molecular weights and polydispersity index of polymers was determined by gel permeation chromatography. Thermal stability of the copolymers were found to increase with increasing mole fraction of MPPA from thermogravimetric analysis. The vibrational analysis of MPPA and poly(MPPA) were also performed to explain the vibrational spectra and to confirm the polymerization on the basis of a theoretical and experimental aproach.     

Structural insights of two novel N-acetyl-glucosaminidase enzymes through in silico methods

EndoBI-1 and EndoBI-2 are two endo- β-N- acetylglucosaminidase isoenzymes that cleave N-N’- diacetylchitobiosyl moieties found in various types of native N -glycans. These N -glycans are indigestible by human infants and adults due to the lack of responsible glycosyl hydrolases and they act as selective prebiotics for a probiotic microorganism, Bifidobacterium longum subsp . infantis , in the large intestine. The selectivity and the thermostability of EndoBI-1 and EndoBI-2 suggest that these enzymes may be useful for many scientific and industrial applications. In this study, the growing numbers of homologous sequences in different databases were exploited in a comparative approach to investigate structural properties of EndoBI-1 and EndoBI-2 enzymes. Moreover, the complete and partial homology models of these two enzymes were generated and evaluated. Selected models were used for docking studies of the plus subsite ligand of these enzymes for further understanding on the substrate selectivity of EndoBI enzymes.     

Novel Nanocomposites of Polypyrrole Doped with Fullerene C60

This paper reports on the structural, thermal, and dielectric properties of polypyrrole/fullerene C₆₀ nanocomposites synthesized by a interfacial polymerization method. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) analyses clearly indicated the existence of interactions between polypyrrole (PPy) and the fullerene C₆₀ nanoparticles. Thermal analyses indicated that the extrapolated onset degradation temperature (T_deg) of PPy increased with increasing doping level. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the fullerene C₆₀ changed the morphology of PPy. Dielectric analyses showed a temperature dependent dielectric relaxation behavior. The relaxation time of the nanocomposites with high doping levels tended to increase with increasing temperature. This behavior of the polypyrrole/fullerene C₆₀ nanocomposites indicated that they could be used as a high temperature ultrasonic transducer.     

Synthesis of new hydrogels based on the macromolecular reaction of citraconic anhydride copolymers with γ‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS)

This work describes the synthesis and macromolecular reactions of citraconic anhydride (CA)–acrylamide (AAm) binary reactive copolymers with γ‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) as a polyfunctional crosslinker. Copolymers with given composition of poly(CA‐alt‐AAm) were synthesized by radical binary copolymerization with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator in benzene at 70°C in nitrogen atmosphere with initial monomer ratio 1 : 1. It was shown that the network structure is formed in poly(CA‐alt‐AAm)/APTS in water by intermolecular reactions between the anhydride unit and the amine group, as well as between the ethoxysilyl fragment and free carboxyl groups of the CA unit and amide unit of AAm. Swelling parameters such as beginning time of the hydrogel‐formation, initial rate of the swelling, swelling rate constant, equilibrium swelling and equilibrium water content were determined for the copolymer/APTS/water system with certain (2.75 : 1) copolymer/crosslinker ratio. Formation of a hyperbranched network structure through the fragmentation of side‐chain reactive groups in studied systems was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) method. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Olefins and Vinyl Polar Monomers: Bridging the Gap for Next Generation Materials

The inherent differences in reactivity between activated and non‐activated alkenes prevents copolymerization using established polymer synthesis techniques. Research over the past 20 years has greatly advanced the copolymerization of polar vinyl monomers and olefins. This Review highlights the challenges associated with conventional polymerization systems and evaluates the most relevant methods which have been developed to “bridge the gap” between polar vinyl monomers and olefins. We discuss advancements in heteroatom tolerant coordination–insertion polymerizations, methods of controlling radical polymerizations to incorporate olefinic monomers, as well as combined approaches employing sequential polymerizations. Finally, we discuss state‐of‐the‐art stimuli‐responsive systems capable of facile switching between catalytic pathways and provide an outlook towards applications in which tailored copolymers are ideally suited.